Wig container

ABSTRACT

A wig container or case for carrying and displaying a wig or wiglet has a wig support structure with a generally cylindrical base and a wig or wiglet support portion extending upwardly from the base. The container or case has a pair of generally semicylindrical case or container portions which engage upper and lower surfaces of the base and enclose the wig support portion. Flanges extend radially outwardly from mating edges of sidewalls of each of the container portions and interengaging means associated with the flanges hold same together whereby the wig container may be lifted by a handle extending upwardly from cover portions of the case members.

"United States Patent Inventors Bertram T. Creese Overland Park, Kans.; Edgar M. Lieberman; David Maslan, Kansas City, Mo. Appl. No. 826,636 Filed May 21, 1969 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Assignee Mercantile Stores Company, Inc.

New York, N.Y. a corporation of Delaware WIG CONTAINER 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 206/8, 220/4, 220/60: 3 12/246 Int. Cl A45c 11/02, B65d 7/12, B65d 85/18 Field of Search 206/8, 16;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,011,209 12/1911 Killion 220/66 2,699,960 l/ 1955 Callery et a1 220/4 3,289,823 12/1966 Weiser et al. 206/8 3,317,076 5/1967 Enders 206/16 3,327,842 6/1967 Meredith et al. 206/8 3,387,749 6/ 1968 Godshalk et al.

Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-Fishburn, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: A wig container or case for carrying and displaying a wig or wiglet has a wig support structure with a generally cylindrical base and a wig or wiglet support portion extending upwardly from the base. The container or case has a pair of generally semicylindrical case or container portions which engage upper and lower surfaces of the base and enclose the wig support portion. Flanges extend radially outwardly from mating edges of sidewalls of each of the container portions and interengaging means associated with the flanges hold same together whereby the wig container may be lifted by a handle extending upwardly from cover portions of the case members.

' PATENTEDJAN 'SIHYI JSHEET 2 [1F 3 INVENTORS Fmese ATTORN EYS PATENTEUJAN 151971 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTORS T Crease,

. Laeberman 0,,

Mashn wvzvu; xrronusvs 'WIG CONTAINER The present invention relates to wig or wiglet containers or cases and more particularly to such containers having a wig support and container portions removably enclosing same.

The principal objects of the present'invention are: to provide a lightweight, portable, wig or wigletcontainer or case having a wig or wiglet support structure including a base portion and a container cover with portions engaging the base portion and a container cover with portions engagingthe base portion to retain said container cover thereon; to provide such a structure wherein the container-cover has transparent portions for view of the wig or wiglet enclosed thereby; to provide such a structure with a container cover or'case formed of a plurality of separate sections; 'to provide such a wig o'r wiglet container which is stackable vertically with similar wig or wiglet containers; toprovide such a wig or' wiglet'container wherein each of the container portions may be formedin the same mold thereby providing identical mating sections; to provide such a wig or wiglet container which is economical to manufacture, easily assembled and disassembled, -and particularly well suited for the proposed use.- 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain "embodiments of this invention. a

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig containeror case embodying features of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational viewof the wig case portions a broken away to-better illustrate thefr'ela'tionbetween container cover portions and a' wig support FIG. 3 is an elevational view of'a'p vertically."

FIG. 4 is anenlargedffragmentary 's ctional view'taltenjonx line 4-4, F1692, showing interenga ginggmeansforholding mating sections of a container together.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionahviewtaken-on line 5-5,FlG. 2, showing interengaging means for holding handle portions together.v Y

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded sectional view taken onv line 6-6, FIG. 2, showing the engagement of the container cover portions and the wig support structure.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a' modified wig container particularly adapted for'carrying and displaying a wiglet.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a pair of modified wigcases stacked vertically with portions broken away to better illustrate the relation between container cover portions. and a wiglet support structure. 7 r

FIG. .9 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded sectional view taken on'line 9-9, FIG. 7, showing the engagement of the container cover portions and wiglet support structure. Referring more indetail to the drawings: The reference numeral 1 generally designates a wig case or container for carrying and displaying a wig 2. The wig case 1 includes a wig support structure-3 having a baseportion'4, and a cover or housing structure 5 enclosing the structure with cover portions engaged with the base portion 4to hold the cover 5 thereon. The cover 5 is formed of a plurality of separable sections 6. The base portion 4 and the-covers when-assembledhave interengaging-portionsto hold'the cover S in enclosing relation to the wig'support structure3l Thecase 1 preferably hastrarisparent portions whereby thewig2 isJvisible therethrou'gh to provide adisplaytherefor. Thecontainer or case 1 may be ofany desiredshape to provide an attractive in transverse sectional portions and is assembledso that the cover sections 6 are movable laterally outwardly for opening same for access to the wig 2 on the wigsupport.

The wig support structured includes the enlarged base or disclike portion 4 which has agenerally circular periphery 7 tapering downwardly and inwardly from an upper face 8. The j base portion 4 has a" bottom or lower surface'9 smaller than r the periphery 7 providing an undercut portion 10 forming a wig 2 placed on the head portion 14. The wig support structure may be of any suitable material, such as synthetic resin, and preferably is molded of a foamplastic for lightness in weight and is adapted to receive and retain pins and the like for holding the wig 2 in position, such as polystyrene or the like. It is also preferred that the support structure have a bottom opening cavity 16 with a recessed portion 17 and lower enlarged recessed portion 18 to reduce weight and also to receive cover members in stacking, as later described.

The cover or housing 5 is formed of a plurality of mating portions or sections 6 which are preferably of identical sections formed in the same mold whereby when in assembled relation, the cover sections 6 are in opposed relation surrounding the wig support 3 so that engaged portions mate. in the structure illustrated, the cover 5 is formed of two mating halves. Each of the sections 6 has a'lower portion 19 with a wall 20 connecting in turn upper andlower walls 211 and 22, respectively, to fit over the base portion 4 with the wall 20 having slight clearance from the periphery 7 thereof, the upper wall 21 engaging the upper face 8 and the lower wall 22 engaging the shoulder 11. The lower wall 22 terminates in a depending lip 23.

1 This corresponding shape of the lower cover portion 19 and lthe'baseportion 4 permits the base portion to be received in a cavity 24 formed bythe upper and lower'walls 21 and 22-and "the connecting wall20 of eachjcover or housing section 6 to I. Iprovide'interengagement when edges 2'5of the walls mate with the respective edges ofother sections 6 of the cover 5.

Each of the cover sections 6 has an upstanding portion 26 and,-in the illustrated structure, the upper wall 21 terminates in an upwardly outwardly inclined portion 27 which extends approximately the height of the conical portion 12 of the base member 4 and then has a further outwardly inclined portion 28. Wall portions 29 extend upward from the portion 28 and form the principal sidewalls of the container. The upper portions of the cover sections 6 each have an inwardly and upwardly curved portion 30 terminating in an upwardly and inwardly sloping top wall or portion 31 which is raised to form a shoulder 32 having an outer periphery substantially the same diameter as the lower enlarged portion 18 of the'recess 16 in the base portion 4. Inwardly of the shoulder 32 there are upwardly extending handletportions 34 thereon.

Flanges'35exten'ding from the walls .pro'videstrength and connecting members'ln the illustrated structure, the flanges 35 extend outwardly from the circular upstanding portion 26. Fastening devices are provided forsecuring the cover sections 6 together in enclosing relation tothevwig support 3. The fasteners could be of any-suitable type and, in the structure illustrated, the flanges 35 are arranged whereby at least one projection 36 is formed in the flange at one edge andan aperture 37 is formed in the flange at the other edge so-that when arranged in opposed relation the respectiveprojection36 and aperture 37 align, and when the mating edges-25'and flanges 35 are moved together the projections 36 snap into theapertures or holes 37'to form an anchor holding the cover sections 6 together. Any number of such fastening arrangements could be used and,'in the illustrated structure,.there are pairs in the flanges 35 adjacent'the'lower portion l9 and also-pairs in the flanges35 adjacent the inwardly and upwardly curved wall portion 30 of. the upstandingportion 26.

The handle portions'34 each have a mating wall 38 having atleast one projection 39 formed adjacent one end of the handle portion andan aperture or hole 40 formedadjacent the other end of said handle p'ortion. Whenarranged in opposed relation, the respective projection 39 and hole or aperture 40 align so that the projection 39.will snap into the aperture 40 when the handleportions 34 are moved together thereby holding the handle'portions 34 together.

In use, the wig 2 is placed on the head portion 14 of the wig support structure 3 which is then enclosed by the identical container sections 6 by placing same in facing relation on opposite sides of the wig support structure 3 and moving the container sections 6 toward each other until the projections 36 and 39 are received in the respective apertures 37 and 40 thereby holding the container sections 6 and handle portions 34 in mating engagement. The fastening means associated with the flanges 35 hold the container sections 6 together and the fast ning means associated with the handle portions 34 hold sa e together whereby the wig case or container 1 may be lifted. A plurality of the wig containers 1 are adapted to be stacked vertically by positioning the lower surface 9 of the base portion 4 of an upper wig case to engage the cover top portions 31 of the container sections 6 of a lower wig container. The recesses 17 and 18 in the base portion 4 of the upper wig container receive the handle portions 34 and the raised shoulder 32 of the lower wig container. The wall surface defining the lower, enlarged recess portion 18 in .the base portion 4 of the upper wig case is engaged with the upstanding shoulder 32 of the lower wig case whereby the wig support structures 3 are positioned in precise vertical alignment.

The space enclosed by the cover sections 6 has a substantially larger diameter than the exterior diameter of the base portion 4 thereby resulting in savings of material particularly in the wig support structure 3 and providing a display for large wigs.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified case or container 45 for storing, carrying and displaying a wiglet (not shown) wherein a wiglet support structure 46 has an annular base portion 47 having a rim portion 48 formed on the periphery thereof. The base portion 47 is an annular member having a lower surface 49 of reduced diameter providing an undercut portion forming a downwardly facing shoulder 50 to be engaged by the container portions or sections 51, as later described. The wiglet support structure 46 has an upper portion 52 which is generally dome-shaped to receive, support and display a wiglet. The upper portion 52 has a generally dome-shaped recess 53 to save material, reduce weight and also to receive cover members in stacking, as later described. The domeshaped portion 52 is spaced inward from the rim portion 48 providing an upper surface 54 on the rim portion.

The container sections 51 are identical members formed in the same mold (not shown) whereby when in assembled relation, the cover sections 51 are positioned in opposed relation surrounding the wiglet support structure 46 so that engaged portions mate. Each of the sections 51 has a lower cavity 55 formed of upper and lower walls 56 and 57 respectively connected by a wall 58 extending therebetween. The cavity 55 fits over a portion of the rim 48 with the lower wall 57 engaging the shoulder 50 and with the upper wall 56 engaging the upper surface 54 and with the wall 58 surrounding the outer periphery of the rim 48.

The remaining portions of the container sections 51 are substantially similar to the container sections 6 except a raised portion 59 on a top portion 60 thereof has an exterior diameter coordinated with the interior diameter of the dome-shaped recess 53 adjacent the lower surface 49 whereby engagement of the interior surface of the recess 53 with the upstanding or raised portion 59 during stacking of the modified cases 45 properly positions the support structures 46.

In use, a wiglet or the like is placed on the upper portion 52 of the support structure 46 and the container sections 51 are placed in facing relation on opposite sides of the support structure 46 and moved toward each other until fastening members 61 are interengaged, as previously described for holding the adjacent container sections 51 in mating engagement, thereby forming the completed modified case 45.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described certain forms of our invention it is not to be limited to these specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

We claim:

1. A wig container comprising:

a. a support having a base and an upper portion for mounting a wig;

b. a housing structure having portions engaging said base for connecting same and holding the housing structure and support in assembled relation;

said housing structure having walls surrounding and enclosing the upper portion of the support and a wig thereon;

d. said housing consisting of a plurality of separable members movable laterally outwardly to effect separation thereof and disengagement with the base and access to a wig contained within said housing structure; and

e. fastening means associated with said housing structure members for holding same together.

2. The wig container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing engagement with the base comprises:

a. said housing members have cooperating portions forming an inwardly opening annular cavity when assembled; and

b. said wig support base has an annular rim received in said cavity when the housing is mounted thereon.

3. The wig container as set forth in claim 2 including: handle means on said housing members for carrying the wig container.

4. The wig container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing members each include:

a. a sidewall;

b. a top wall portion extending transversely from said sidewall;

c. said side and top walls of each housing member having edges' adapted to engage and mate with respective edges of the other housing member; and

d. flanges extending transversely from the edges of said sidewall, said flanges having said fastening means associated therewith.

5. The wig container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fastening means includes:

a. a plurality of spaced apertures in one of said flanges of each of said housing members; and

b. a like plurality of projections extending from the other of said flanges of each of said housing members, said projections on the flange of one housing member being alignable with and sized to be slidably received in the apertures of the flange of the other housing member with an engagement holding said housing members together.

6. The wig container as set forth in claim 4 including:

a. a raised portion extending upwardly from said top walls;

and

b. an upwardly extending recess in a lower surface of the base of said wig support structure, said lower surface of said base being engageable with said top walls and said raised portion being receivable in said recess whereby a plurality of wig cases are stackable vertically.

7. The wig container as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. said housing members each have a top wall portion with edges adapted to engage and mate with the respective edge of the other; and

b. said handle means has like handle portions integral with and extending upwardly from said top wall portion of each of said housing members adjacent said edge thereof.

8. The wig container as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a. said annular rim of said base has an upper surface;

b. said annular rim of said base has a reduced diameter adjacent said lower surface of said base thereby forming a downwardly facing shoulder;

c. said sidewall of each of said housing members is sized and shaped to engage and be supported on said upper surface of said annular rim; and

d. said sidewalls each have shoulder engaging portions whereby said wig support structure is lifted by raising said sidewalls.

9. A wig container comprising:

a. a wig support structure having a disclike portion and a wig support portion extending upwardly from said disclike portion, said disclike portion havinga lower surface and an upper surface; I

b. a pair of housing members engaging and enclosing said c. a handle portion integral with and. extending upwardly from each of said top walls adjacent said edge thereof, said handle portions being'in-engagement whereby the wig container may be lifted; and

d. interengaging means associated with said flanges and said handle portions for holding said side housing members in assembled relation and in connecting engagement with said disclike portion.

10. The wig container as set forth in claim 9 including:

a. a raised portion extending upwardly from each of said top walls, said handle portions extending upwardly from said raised portions; and

b. an upwardly extending recess in said disclike portion and said wig support structure, said recess being sized to receive said handle portions andsaid raised portions therein, said disclike portion having a lower surface shaped to engage said top walls 'for support thereon whereby a plurality of wig containers are stackable vertically. 

1. A wig container comprising: a. a support having a base and an upper portion for mounting a wig; b. a housing structure having portions engaging said base for connecting same and holding the housing structure and support in assembled relation; c. said housing structure having walls surrounding and enclosing the upper portion of the support and a wig thereon; d. said housing consisting of a plurality of separable members movable laterally outwardly to effect separation thereof and disengagement with the base and access to a wig contained within said housing structure; and e. fastening means associated with said housing structure members for holding same together.
 2. The wig container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing engagement with the base comprises: a. said housing members have cooperating portions forming an inwardly opening annular cavity when assembled; and b. said wig support base has an annular rim received in said cavity when the housing is mounted thereon.
 3. The wig container as set forth in claim 2 including: handle means on said housing members for carrying the wig container.
 4. The wig container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing members each include: a. a sidewall; b. a top wall portion extending transversely from said sidewall; c. said side and top walls of each housing member having edges adapted to engage and mate with respective edges of the other housing member; and d. flanges extending transversely from the edges of said sidewall, said flanges having said fastening means associated therewith.
 5. The wig container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fastening means includes: a. a plurality of spaced apertures in one of said flanges of each of said housing members; and b. a like pluRality of projections extending from the other of said flanges of each of said housing members, said projections on the flange of one housing member being alignable with and sized to be slidably received in the apertures of the flange of the other housing member with an engagement holding said housing members together.
 6. The wig container as set forth in claim 4 including: a. a raised portion extending upwardly from said top walls; and b. an upwardly extending recess in a lower surface of the base of said wig support structure, said lower surface of said base being engageable with said top walls and said raised portion being receivable in said recess whereby a plurality of wig cases are stackable vertically.
 7. The wig container as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said housing members each have a top wall portion with edges adapted to engage and mate with the respective edge of the other; and b. said handle means has like handle portions integral with and extending upwardly from said top wall portion of each of said housing members adjacent said edge thereof.
 8. The wig container as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said annular rim of said base has an upper surface; b. said annular rim of said base has a reduced diameter adjacent said lower surface of said base thereby forming a downwardly facing shoulder; c. said sidewall of each of said housing members is sized and shaped to engage and be supported on said upper surface of said annular rim; and d. said sidewalls each have shoulder engaging portions whereby said wig support structure is lifted by raising said sidewalls.
 9. A wig container comprising: a. a wig support structure having a disclike portion and a wig support portion extending upwardly from said disclike portion, said disclike portion having a lower surface and an upper surface; b. a pair of housing members engaging and enclosing said wig support structure, said container members each being substantially the same structure and having a sidewall and a top wall with edges adapted to engage and mate with the respective edges of the other in opposed relation, said sidewall having a flange extending radially outwardly from said edges thereof, said sidewalls being shaped to engage said upper and lower surfaces of said disclike portion; c. a handle portion integral with and extending upwardly from each of said top walls adjacent said edge thereof, said handle portions being in engagement whereby the wig container may be lifted; and d. interengaging means associated with said flanges and said handle portions for holding said side housing members in assembled relation and in connecting engagement with said disclike portion.
 10. The wig container as set forth in claim 9 including: a. a raised portion extending upwardly from each of said top walls, said handle portions extending upwardly from said raised portions; and b. an upwardly extending recess in said disclike portion and said wig support structure, said recess being sized to receive said handle portions and said raised portions therein, said disclike portion having a lower surface shaped to engage said top walls for support thereon whereby a plurality of wig containers are stackable vertically. 